Gizmo

As the panicking crowd pushed and shoved their way toward the portal, Jack of all Blades appeared in an empty spot higher up in the bleachers, leaning heavily on a helpful bystander with a ponytail and Freedom City Blades jersey. Though looking unusually pale beneath his crimson bandanna mask and holding his sash to the spot where Orion's bullet had passed through his chest with white knuckles, the swashbuckler continued to exude larger than life confidence, unlike his unconscious opponents. When he spoke, his voice rang out over the din of the mob, smooth and wry. "You heard the lady, folks! Quick jaunt through portal and back home in time for dinner, eh? Keep calm or you won't get a signed headshot from this guy, amirite?" With a clarion laugh, he pointed to himself with the hand draped over the shoulders on the concerned looking teenage girl and winked broadly at the crowd. A few of the civilians chuckled in spite of themselves and a weight seemed to lift from their collective shoulders. Good had triumphed once more, and all was well. "I need to look at the gunshot wound, hermano," Ellie whispered insistently. "If that belt wasn't already red, it would be from the blood you've lost." Erik's jaunty grin didn't waver and he continued to nod and wave to the passing bystanders on their way to the gateway. "Once everyone's through and safe, hermanita," he replied just as softly. "No lying down on the job."

Woah. I uh, don't generally choose to inflict knockback with Jack's attacks, due to the descriptors, but it's hard to argue with the results in this case. Somebody's gonna need to go get that guy! I'll get an IC post up as soon as I can, which may not be until tomorrow morning; Scott Pilgrim midnight release party, woo!

Trevor looked over to give Erin a rare smile showing rows of perfect teeth. "Can work with that," he assured her. As the elevator doors opened in the lobby, his mouth compressed to a thin line as he loosened his tie. Outside, the vintage limousine pulled up to the building, the motorcycle and garb of Midnight concealed in the trunk. "Now... let's get to work."

Jill snorted derisively, then caught herself and blushed deeper in embarrassment. "No, no, I'm not, y'know, 'woosh'," she replied, vaguely miming a one handed flying pose. "I'm just here because of my brother," she explained, nodding over to where Jack was extolling the virtues of Colt's ability to sear meat. Now that it had been pointed out, the family resemblance was obvious; the siblings shared the same angular features and the dusty brown ponytail the lean teenager was absently toying with matched the shade of the swashbuckler's real hair. "And, I mean, I hang out here sometimes, so I know Lynn already and, um, so." Clearing her throat self-consciously, Jill changed the subject, "So, how did you do that thing with the tree? Is it like a 'bigger on the inside' deal?" Her tone was genuinely curious, and youthful excitement continued to slip through her cynical facade.

Jack turned around to face the brunette addressing him, chagrin passing over his features. "And my manners have deserted me completely. I apologize, ladies, for my, ah, distraction." The athletic young man accepted the proffered hand. "Jack, Jack of all Blades." There was brief pause before he elaborated, "Of the New Hampshire Of-All-Blades. It's an old Irish name." As Elena gave a scathing description of Moira's past behaviour, the boyish grin on Jack's face became slightly awkward. "Well, that's certainly... ah... So hey, how about Bill with that grilling, right?" He threw an arm over the cowboy's shoulders. "Who says this guy doesn't have a superpower!"

Focused though he was on the buffet, Jack did notice de Havilland letting her hair down, so to speak, and much more obviously the scientist's hasty attempt to cover her own surprise. Fortunately, the fencer had a considerably easier time keeping his amusement off of his own face. He sympathized with Estelle; Moira tended to have that sort of effect on people, unfortunately. Similarly, he didn't make any move to acknowledge the brief dust up in the kitchen. Their hostess had dealt with the situation handily. Breakdown's exaggeratedly humble speech caused him to finally quirk an eyebrow, however. "'ODK'? What, are you guys supposed to be a big deal or something?"

Jack failed to completely suppressed a wince as Ace identified the drink he'd described. "Kinda thought it might be something like that." The younger man ran a hand over his face as they finished the short trip to the drinks. "Ace, level with me, scale of one to ten, how inappropriate would attempting to hook up with one of Lynn's friends at her birthday party be? 'Cause I'm not a great judge of that sort of thing, but I'm thinking pretty inappropriate. Bridesmaid in a closet sorta thing." Uncomfortably aware that he was rambling, the fencer closed his mouth with an audible click of teeth on teeth. "Scotch, right, I'll check."

Jack of all Blades Hero Point: Add 5 ranks of Diplomacy with Beginner's Luck. Full Round Action: Diplomacy Check. (1d20+11=19)

He's only got one HP left, Shaen, I think I'll have to pass as well.

Jack'll make a 20 Notice check as well using his Detect Magic AP, specifically looking for necromantic juju.

With a lazy flick of his wrist, Jack's lighter tumbled into his hand from somewhere up the sleeve of his greatcoat, lighting with a faint click in the same fluid motion. The swashbuckler stopped his swaggering stride as he stepped onto the lawn in front of the house, several meters back from the door. The flickering flame danced back and forth restlessly in complete disregard for the wind, but didn't leap to his flexing right hand just yet. Cracking his neck and narrowing his masked eyes, he called softly back to the gunman perched on the vehicle behind him, "Call the play, cowboy."

Trevor let out a breath that might have been the faintest inkling of an exasperated sigh. "New rule," he decided as they walked to the elevator. "When it's just us, we say whatever we're thinking." The lanky teen mimed turning a imaginary dial on his belt. "Turbines to honesty. Deal?" He punctuated the last word lightly by tapping the down button then hooking his thumbs in his beltloops, pushing back the sides of his jacket.

Jack burst out laughing at Lynn's song, allowing himself to become distracted for the split second it took the diminutive woman to tag him across his left cheek. Rolling away from the attack, he came up rubbing his face with a grin. "I'm beginning to see a pattern, here," he drawled as he ducked and weaved through Eli's assault. "Don't forget guys, head shots are satisfying, but you're just a likely to hurt your hand and their face. Work the body!" The fencers acrobatics placed him squarely in the middle of the room, with his three teammates surrounding him. "C'mon! Three-on-one, working together, wearing me down, you can do this!"

In the interest of wrapping this up, Jack is going to unleash his secret technique, the one he's been planning on all along! He'll spend an HP... to Inspire Lynn, Mona and Eli! Hey, he is trying to train them, right? 20 - Jack of all Blades - Bruised - HP x2 14 - Fulcrum - Unharmed - HP x2, +2 Aid Another, +5 Inspire 13 - Grimlakin - Unharmed - HP x2, +5 Inspire 9 - Dynamo - Unharmed - HP x3, +5 Inspire

Jack Auto-hits both of those checks, natch.

Trevor gave Erin a long, silent look before replying, choosing his words carefully. "You prevented an extremely powerful friend from hurting anyone or doing something he'd regret, saved James from Eddie's... stunt and remained calm and collected enough to help Alex deal with the aftermath, but you feel bad because you offered honest, well intentioned advice?" The lean young man raised his hands to ward off the inevitable protests. "You're a hero; have to get used to people treating you like one." All of it was delivered with his usual soft inflection, but the sheer amount of speech from the laconic teen lent his words weight.

Players Name: Gizmo Power Level: 13 (195/195PP) Trade-Offs: +5 Attack, -5 Damage, +5 Defense, -5 Toughness Unspent PP: 0 NPC Tier: 2 Characters Name: Tom O’Hawk Alternate Identity: Enrique Espadas Age: 21 Gender: Male Height: 5'11'' Weight: 145 lb Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Dark Blue [groove]21721169[/groove] Description: Enrique Espadas is a strapping young man with loosely curled dark brown hair hanging down to a strong chin and perpetual grin. Combined with attractive, angular features, intelligent blue eyes and a thin, well kept moustache he habitually strokes, that smile creates the impression that he’s laughing at a joke to which only he is privy. Typically dressing as gentleman of leisure despite his young age, when he dons an immaculate white suit to match him gleaming teeth, he is better known as the folk hero Tom O’Hawk. A deep red waistband and neckerchief break up the outfit’s monochrome, and a crimson domino mask conceals his identity. His name comes from his weapon of choice, the shining golden axe known as Los Cinco Soles. History: On a world resembling Earth-Prime’s mid-19th century despite it’s technological advancement, Enrique Espadas stowed away on his first riverboat when he was twelve. Charming his way into a job, he began a life travelling up and down America’s greatest waterways, pulling odd jobs and developing a knack for poker. Unfortunately, a weakness for women and a habit of cheating kept him always on the move. When one tournament turned out to be far higher stakes than advertised, Enrique outmanoeuvred a gang of villains, saving the life of the President in the process and coming into possession of an Aztec axe of startling mystical power: Los Cinco Soles. Recruited into the Secret Service, he adopted a masked alter-ego which was soon christened Tom O’Hawk by the sailors and settlers he championed. Personality & Motivation: Enrique does not, on the surface, possess the qualities one generally looks for in a hero. While witty and charming, a short attention span and habitual lying and cheating inevitably catch up to him, causing his fortunes to oscillate wildly between good and bad. Lacking any great malice or greed, he acts largely out of boredom, a free spirit well suited to a travelling lifestyle. Having come from an inauspicious background, however, Enrique has a genuine soft spot for the underdog and a vehement distaste for bullies. There are times he wistfully regrets that he is not a more honest man, and his loyalty, once given, is unshakeable. His antics as Tom O’Hawk satisfy his need for excitement and risk while giving him a convenient excuse to be a better man than he would ever admit to. Powers & Tactics: Not possessing any superhuman abilities of his own, Enrique is rather the wielder of the golden axe Los Cinco Soles. Supposedly forged by the four children of Ometeotl, the weapon is supernaturally strong and sharp, and can release a blinding burst of sunlight at Enrique’s command. The axe is also balanced for throwing and can dispel all manner of darkness. A showboater, Enrique carefully manipulates a fight to his advantage, defeating his opponents in humiliating fashion. He prioritises protecting any innocent bystanders, particularly any beautiful women in the crowd. In a world where very nearly everyone is packing, using a melee weapon forces him to be light on his feet, but he refuses to risk killing his opponents by using a firearm. Complications: Cheat (Enrique compulsively stacks the deck, figuratively or literally.) Enemies (Cheated Gamblers, Enemies of the State.) Grandstanding (Enrique’s style revolves around showing off, in and out of combat, even when discretion might be wiser.) Responsibility (Presidential Secret Service, Wielder of Los Cinco Soles) Secret (Secret Identity) Lover of Women (Enrique is easily distracted by attractive women, be they bystanders, fellow heroes or even villains.) Abilities: 4 + 10 + 12 + 0 + 4 + 12 = 32PP STR: 14 (+2) DEX: 20 (+5) CON: 14 (+2) INT: 10 (+0) WIS: 12 (+1) CHA: 22 (+6) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40PP Attack +10 Base, +14 unarmed, +18 Los Cinco Soles Grapple +19 Defense +18 (+10 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +5 Flat-Footed Knockback -4/-2 Initiative: +9 Saves: 3 + 10 + 8 = 21PP Toughness: +8 (+2 Con, +4 Defensive Roll, +2 Undercover Shirt) Fortitude: +5 (+2 Con, +3) Reflex: +15 (+5 Dex, +10) Will: +10 (+2 Wis, +8) Skills: 104R = 26PP Acrobatics 10 (+15) Bluff 18 (+24) Climb 5 (+10) Disguise 9 (+15) Gather Information 4 (+10) Language 1 (Native: Spanish, English) Notice 13 (+15) Performance (guitar) 7 (+13) Profession (gambler) 9 (+10) Ride 10 (+15) Stealth 10 (+15) Swim 8 (+10) Feats: 52PP Agile Climber Attack Specialization (Los Cinco Soles) 2 Attack Specialization (unarmed) 2 Beginner's Luck Benefit (Presidential Sanction) Challenge 2 (Fast Task [Feint, Taunt]) Contacts Defensive Attack Defensive Roll 4 Distract (Bluff) Dodge Focus 8 Elusive Target Equipment 1 Evasion 2 Fascinate (Bluff) Fearless Grapple Finesse Improved Critical (Los Cinco Soles, 18-20) Improved Initiative Inspire 5 Jack-of-all-Trades Luck 4 Move-By Action Power Attack Set Up Skill Mastery 1 (Acrobatics, Bluff, Notice, Stealth) Takedown Attack 2 Taunt Uncanny Dodge 2 (Auditory, Visual) Powers: 24PP Device 8 (Los Cinco Soles; 35PP, Flaws:Easy-To-Loose) [24PP] DC Block: Unarmed -- DC17/Toughness -- Bruised (Staged) Los Cinco Soles -- DC23/Toughness -- Bruised (Staged) Blinding Light -- DC18/Reflex -- Blindness Costs: Abilities 32 + Combat 40 + Saves 21 + Skills 26 + Feats 52 + Powers 24 = Total Cost 195/195 Note: Los Cinco Soles includes a single rank of Improved Critical. The additional rank as part of Tom O’Hawks normal feats places the critical range for the axe at 18-20 when he wields it.

Couple of bookkeeping things on Jack of all Blades sheet. First, his knockback should actually be -4/-1 these days. Second, in the third paragraph of his History his mother is referred to as Gail; that should be Gina. Thanks! DONE BY SHAENTHEBRAIN

Jack of all Blades adjusted the collar of the bodysuit beneath his greatcoat absently as he stood next to the vampire in the elevator. "Custom sewn, actually. Started off just cutting holes in bandannas but they never really tied properly. Ended up being cheaper buying the fabric outright anyway." There was an awkward pause filled by faint music from the elevator's speakers. "Nice, ah, chains. Thought they'd rattle more than they do."

Knowledge (Pop Culture) check. (1d20=10) Told you. Does the auto 20 Notice from Skill Mastery cut it?

Ah, see, I thought it was a Love Potion 69 with extra stuff. There's a lot of cocktails you could make out of all that!

I'd say so, yeah.

"I get the feeling there's not much I could teach you," Jack responded honestly, "but sparring's always good practice. I'll be right back." Beating a hasty retreat, the fencer crossed the lawn to the various beverages Lynn had set up. The list of ingredients didn't mean anything to him, but fortunately many an hour spent working as both a waiter and short order cook had taught him the knack for remembering long orders. He nodded cordially to the blonde and brunette he hadn't had a chance to greet yet, and paused briefly next to the immortal adventurer. "Hey, Ace, what d'you call coconut rum, peach schnappes, orange, pineapple and cranberry juice with amaretto?" he inquired, ticking the ingredients off on his fingers absently. Meanwhile, Jill had been wandering about the yard, skirting the edges of the small pockets of conversation that had formed. Finding herself near Stesha and Derrik, the coltish teen bit her lip uncertainly for a moment before blurting out, "Is you hair really green like that? Like without dying it?" Dark blue eyes immediately went wide. "Ohmigosh, that's not like super rude to ask or something, is it? I just meant that it's, y'know, I mean, it's really cool and I used to dye mine for a while, and that was sorta lame but it took a long time to do and you've got so much hair that it's just be... a really..." The tanned girl's cheeks coloured with embarrassment as she trailed off. "I, ah, I'm Jill. Sorry."

Oh hell, sword-related innuendo. That's not even fair, Jack groaned in his head, all the while presenting an easy, charming smile. "Always willing to give private demonstrations," he replied, quirking an eyebrow slightly. Argh, Dios, stop talking you tremendous idiota. The fencer pointed over Moira's shoulder. "Tell you what, I was just about to get myself something to drink. What're you having?"

Recovery Check. (1d20+5=18) Hey hey! Just one bruise left! Jack's back in the game!